My thriving Xenia colony crashed

[cshenderson]

they are tiny and shrivled, but are still seemingly alive. They haven't rotted away. Are they lost? Can they be saved? If so, how? I read in Eric's book that this sometimes happenes, but I wondered if anyone had any experieince with resurecting them?

 

[tgreene]

When they completely crash, you'll notice the necrotic tissue sloughing away. Xenia does some pretty bizarre stuff, so just wait it out while watching it closely.

If you have Iodine, you may try dosing directly over top of it too, since Xenia thrives on it. When taking it in though, it will scruntch up really tight, then expand fully afterwards.

 

[hisc1ay]

I would put money down that you'll have a thriving colony again in a month or so. It might get worse before it gets better, but xenia does that kinda stuff. You may want to investigate your water though to make sure that something really crazy didn't happen. Wouldn't hurt to toss in a couple water changes either.

My xenia completely crashed once...totally melted...because I was stupid and did topoff from the tap. The one and only time I ever did that. I figured out that the copper from the pipes leeched into the water, and it was enough to crash my tank. Within a month I had a full blown thriving xenia colony again.

-j

 

[mr pink floyd]

mine did that when i first got them, for a few days every night at exactly 7 o clock they would all shrink un into litle balls, then when i came home fro mschool they would be thriving, they dont do that anymore, they take all the light they can, adn grow!

 

[mr pink floyd]

i always top off from tap, adn use tap water, my town jus thas really good water, but i do treat it for chlorine and other chemicals and stuff

 

[XeniaMania]

You might see a few polyps floating around, save them because they can start a new colony for you. There has been a theory on keeping different types of xenia prevents crashes. I do believe this is true because they become compeitive with each other. I have 7 different types and have only experienced a crash when my CO2 valve gave in my calcium reactor, thus crashing the Ph(needless to say I sold it). It is my own theory that one potential reason xenias crash is because nutrient(s) that they require has been depleted, therefore they crash to reduce the colony and start over again. That's why I supplement my tank w/ Combi-Vital and they have been doing excellent. However, if my theory proves incorrect, you guys will all be the first to know

 

[cshenderson]

It is my own theory that one potential reason xenias crash is because nutrient(s) that they require has been depleted, therefore they crash to reduce the colony and start over again.

Interseting...

My nitrate and po4 levels are undetectable. I have heard that some people use Xenia in fuges as a means for nutrient export. I wonder if they are in effect starving? I can't say that I want phospahte and nitrate in my water but that is a possible cause for the crash.

 

[XeniaMania]

I think a good way of finding out is examining where xenia colonies exist in their natural habitat. Protein skimming is mimicing the foaming of the waves which pushes organics to shore (one reason I don't go to the beach..haha). If they are found near the shores, they very well could be nature's filter for cleaning the water flowing back into deeper areas where SPS thrive. I don't know about phosphate being a source of nutrients for them, but I do feel strongly about nitrates and organics being a form of nutrient for them. Here's a shocker, my nitrates are in the 25mg/l range, and they're growing very well in my tank. Truth be told, even at near 100mg/l, they were thriving. I've often looked at xenias in tanks that are very "clean" and noticed that the xenias pulse faster and are alot more feathery. While they are very aethestically pleasing, I've always felt, that's their way of trying to gather more nutrients.

Another good example would be the Eco-sphere. If you look at the reasons why the shrimps do not reproduce in the Eco-sphere, is because they "know" if they reproduce, there would not be enough resources for them to survive. That is what's stated on their site.